Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a series of new measures for interstate travellers will be imposed four days earlier than initially planned. The sunshine state has almost reached its 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.
Here’s everything you need to know about entering and leaving Queensland once the new border rules come into effect:
From 1am, Monday December 13, the Queensland borders will fling open. Police checkpoints will be staggered across the border and at airports to check the eligibility of new arrivals.
Fully vaccinated travellers from interstate “hotspots” will now be permitted to arrive in Queensland via road or air. Changes have also been made to the definition of “fully vaccinated” in this context. While people originally had to have received their second dose two weeks prior, that has now been reduced to one week.
They will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the 72 hours before their arrival. Travellers coming from hotspots will need to also produce a second negative test on the fifth day of their trip.
Residents living in regions on the border of Queensland and New South Wales will be able to obtain a border pass to allow for free movement across the border. The pass will be valid for 14 days.
All international travellers will need to be fully vaccinated and produce a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure. They will also need to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
International arrivals will still need to go into home/hotel quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival.
From Friday December 17, new restrictions for unvaccinated people will come into effect. People who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be unable to enter an array of venues, including bars, restaurants, and clubs.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has told travellers to “expect extensive delays” across the border, asking those crossing to “pack [their] patience”.
Ms Palaszczuk tells Queenslanders to expect an increase in cases once the borders open.
“We haven’t had the waves that we have seen in Sydney and Victoria,” said the premier.
“But we do know that there will be cases, that is going to be a reality.”
